San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-09-19

BLAINE'S CENTENNIAL LETTER.
Hon. James @. Blaine, having been
invited by the Constitutional Centennial
commission to be present and partici-
pate in that great event, and finding
himself unable by reason Of his absence
10 Europe to accept the invitation has
sent the following letter to the commits
sion:
"HAMBURG, Germany, Sept. 2.-TO
Hon. JAS. 4. KassOn, Amos Little and
Hampton l.. CarsOn-GENTLENIES: 1t Is
with sincere regret that | lind myself
unable TO accept your invitation to be
present at the celebration OF the centen-
Mai anniversary of the prom ulgstion OF
the constitution of the United States on
September Il, 1887. Next to the deolar-
ton OF Independence the OTdaining OF
the constitution is the great event to be
celebrated for all time by the Amer
ICan people. As years roll by and the
cation grows in numbers, In power, In
prestige our admiration and appreCla-
lion OF the men who framed our
organic law are steadily strengthened.
1t was assuredly work OF genius
to construct for thirteen feeble
states, with sn aggregate Of three and
half millions Of people II constitution
which one hundred years later Is found
perfectly adapted to the wants and
wishes of Il powerful nation expanded
four fold In its territorial area, with
thirty eight states and more than
6O,GOO,OOO OF people. Perhaps In no
country and at no period OF the worlds
history has the conception OF free
government firmly secured by the checks
and balances OF permanent ana con-
servatiVe constitution, been more pro-
pounded, studied and cOmprChcndcd
than by our fOrefathers. Erry eflcctu-
ally organized revolution IT, Hlnst the
foolish tyranny OF the English king and
against the arrogant wrong Oh an Eng
lish parliament. After Victory In the
field they completed their work by lay
ing broad and deep the foundations OF
popular government III which the peo-
pie are rulers. and the officials are ser
wants. The extraordinary proportion
Of men who In that patriotic feeling
were fitted by long standing and train
ing TO the highest duties Of statesman
ship, Is shown by the fact that OF the
fifty. five members OF the congress
OF l776 who signed the declaration
of independence, only six were in
cluded in the thirty-nne members Of the
convention OF 1877 who signed the con-
stitutiOn. The reverence and affection
which we feel towards these great men
will be best shown by oherIshing their
work and assuring to our descendants
as many and as grateful reasons for
national celebration Of the establishment
OF the constitution as those which intlu-
enee us today.
with great respect, faithfully yours,
Signed j. G.. BLAINE"
These are the sentiments Of the man,
by whose counsels the nation has profit
ed In the past; the man who more than
any one living, during a period of
twenty years, shaped the policy OF the
nation; the man whose ingram Ameri-
canism has been recognized at home and
abroad and who is justly regarded rs
the greatest exponent of the Monroe
doctrine that this country has yet pro-
duCed; the man Of all men, whose for
eign policy causes the old world mon
arches uneasiness and disquiet-and |
yet, it is this man that by lying mug |
wump and bourbon press is accused
Of tOadying to the European mon
archies.